The Draw of the NCAA Hockey Tournament

Although I’m a little late to draw in anyone new to watch this year, the NCAA frozen four tournament is one of my favorite times of the year for sports. For each of the last 3 years, and while I was in college before that, I've taken a Friday off just to sit and watch college hockey games which I have no particular rooting interest in. I decided to take a look at why I find these games so interesting and why you should watch them if you don’t already.

Being from Utica, I have quite the variety of hockey experiences. The Utica Devils, before I can really remember. Followed by CHL/UHL teams in the Bulldogs, Blizzard, and eventually the Prowlers. Eventually, after all of the semi pro teams left, Utica College brought hockey back to the area. Ten years later, they are still thriving, even with the arrival of Utica’s latest pro team, the Comets of the AHL. Given the timeline, most of the experiences I remember are of the Pioneers. Watching years of college hockey here before attending SUNY Brockport and becoming part of one of the best fan bases in D3 (at least while we were there) has certainly influenced the style of hockey that I like to watch.

While I can watch NHL hockey any day of the week, the college game has more draw to me, especially in a loser goes home format. College hockey has a different intensity to it than a typical NHL game does. While it’s trying to compare regular season to playoffs, it is fair at times to do so. As is the case with most college athletics, many of the players on the roster will not make it to play at the top level in their sport. This being said, once the tournament starts, the athletes face the potential that this may be their last game. No one wants to go out a loser, thus the extreme emotion seen in college hockey games.  

There are more intense rivalries in college hockey than in the NHL. Normally rivals in the NHL will play each other about 4 time over the course of an 82 game season. In college, they might play a rival the same number of times, but with only 40 games in a season each game means much more. Especially when only the “top 16” teams get into the tournament. Less when you consider the conferences with automatic bids for their tournament winners. There is also the school spirit part of the intensity. Players dislike each other based on what logo is on their jersey, never mind if they are competing for a single playoff spot. The crowds can get into it as well, even on TV you can hear chants from students and the pep band that travel with the teams. The more energy in the building, the more energy the game seems to absorb. When crossover play starts in the tournament, you see older rivalries that may not get renewed as often, for example the second round game between North Dakota and Minnesota this year. Just because they haven’t played lately, doesn't mean they like each other. 

While fighting isn't part of the college game, it certainly doesn't mean games don’t get heated and physical. Scrums can still happen, instead of throwing punches players have to look to make a big hit to get even later on. Some of that is lost with the hitter being responsible for the player getting hit, but that’s an issue I have for another day.

College hockey is one of the few sports where simply being the better team won’t get you very far. Upsets are common in the tournament. Just take a look at Bemidji State a few years ago. The equivalent of the last team in college basketball made a run all the way to the final four. If your goalie gets hot for the tournament, you can go from an “easy out” to a title contender.

My favorite part of the tournament might be the frequency of games in the first weekend. There are constantly games on from noon until about midnight on the first two days of the tournament. Usually, multiple devices are needed as well, since overlapping games occur with multiple locations being used. Hockey overload is certainly never a bad experience as long as you are prepared.

College hockey is just fun to watch. Whether you cheer for a team year round, pick a team at the start of the tournament, or just watch to see who the next stars might be (i.e. Johnny Gaudreau playing in the championship game and then scoring his first NHL goal a night later). There are plenty of reasons to watch college hockey during the tournament and during the regular season when you can find it. 

The Utica Comets Experience

As the season begins to wind down and slim playoff hopes becoming even slimmer, I have decided to take a look at what has been good and some things that could be done to increase the home town advantage. Yes, I know some of these would be expensive and there may be restrictions on how business works, but they are just some thoughts that would increase the atmosphere in the AUD.
I'll start with some of the things that have been good so far in the first year of having professional hockey back in the Mohawk Valley. First, we have hockey and people are coming out in full force to watch it. Nine games so far this year have sold the maximum 3,815 tickets for admission. It is a very telling number of the support for hockey in the area. By ticket sales, Utica College has continued their stretch of being tops in NCAA D3 attendance. Through the regular season, they averaged 3,779 tickets sold per game, according to USCHO.com. The Utica Memorial Auditorium is also turning back into a modern arena. The fresh coat of paint(and vinyl wrap) provided the initial face lift. The season ticket holder bars, The Horton Room and Kilfoils, have added a new experience for those who have been going to the AUD for years. More changes are still in the work, I personally cannot wait to see them continue. The Comets have done an excellent job of using promotions to sell tickets as well. Teaming up with other local and national businesses, there has been a giveaway of some sort for around half of the home weekend games. As well, weekday games have featured discounted tickets and discounted beer. Lets be honest, what brings Utica hockey fans out more than $2 beers? The Comets have stayed very connected to the community as well, as would be expected with their ownership group. They have featured several local groups with pregame ceremonies, had local celebrities such as now Olympic goal medalist Erin Hamlin and America's got talent celebrity Leon Etienne drop the opening puck. Local youth teams have played between periods and been honored during games. Of course, they have also added the "hall of fame" for the past Comets, honoring the history of the game in the area. There has been lots to love so far this year, with still more to come in the remaining games and into the future.

The first change I would like to see made applies to both the Comets and Utica College. Both teams have excellent season ticket sales which is great but limits tickets available to the general public. I believe there needs to be a way for season ticket holders to surrender their tickets if they are not attending a game. This would allow the AUD to come closer to filling up on games which they are technically "sold out". Utica hasn't been in this scenario in a long time, before the invention of stub hub to be sure, so people don't think about or want to go online to sell their tickets. Facebook can work for some but only if people are going to be in the area to physically exchange them. An option on the Comets website to surrender them for resale (maybe with reimbursement to the original ticket holder) would benefit both the Comets an their fans.

The second change I would make is creating a sponsored "energy section." The premise would be that fans could buy specific tickets with the intention being that they will bring energy to the game. Utica has always had "The Chicken Man" and years ago it was his section that led all the cheers at The AUD. Needless to say he isn't in his prime to do so any more and The AUD lacks the energy he used to bring. I personally would try to get a radio station to but out one of the stage end sections and resell them to the fans who are interested. Utica College has a general student section area that occasionally provides the passion and leadership to the crowd. We've heard how loud The AUD can get in the closing seconds of the game, why not more often when the team could use a lift?

The third change I would make would be using the downstairs pub to its maximum potential. Opening the pub for game where the Comets are away from The AUD could be a big draw, especially against local teams where the rivalries are growing. I know the games are available on the radio and AHL Live, but for some streaming isn't worth the money. If the Comets streamed the games in the pub it would allow fans to get together to support their team, not to mention additional revenue from beer sales, maybe even partnering with The AUD concessions to make it food available. Another idea would be selling tickets to just the pub for Comets home games which are sold out. While this one would hurt season ticket holders, it would increase the number of people able to be in the building for the big games.

The Comets have been extremely successful so far this season on and off the ice. These ideas could add a bit more to the atmosphere at the games to help them continue. What do you think? Any other ideas? Feel free to share them on here or with me on twitter at @oisen25

A Pre Big Ten Review

As the Hawkeyes prepare to open their Big Ten schedule against Penn State this Sunday, I decided to take a look at their warm up games so far this season. I do this on my way to Pennsylvania so lack of internet is the reason for the lack of details.

So far the Hawks have put together a 3-1 record with 2 wins over non FBS Championship Series teams.  The games against these two teams have provided some very promising performances as well as some worries. Iowa has also defeated a Pittsburgh team who went on to demolish then number 16 USF two weeks late. The lone loss for the Hawkeyes has at the hands of in state rival, Iowa State.

The up side:

The defense: Big plays haven’t been hard to find so far this year, there have been many timely interceptions as well as third and fourth down stops that have been game changers.

The line has been excellent at stopping opposing running backs. There hasn’t been a game where the opponent has rushed for significant yards yet this season. The inside play allows the secondary to be a bit more free and create the plays that they have so far.

The offense: The ability to move the ball has been present throughout the year so far whether by ground or by air. I am a firm believer that you must be able to run the ball to succeed, but I have fallen in love with the up tempo air it out offense that has been present since the fourth quarter of the Pitt game. The Hawks are now able to do to opposing defenses what is done to them from time to time; keep them on the field and throw the ball over the field.

The passing takes some of the carries off of Coker for now, allowing him to stay rested and ready for when the elements hit and the ball has to stay on the ground.

Special Teams: Special teams fall on the positive side since they have not have any glaring holes. Meyer has been solid kicking field goals despite his couple misses at Iowa State. The coverage has been acceptable on punt and kickoff returns, nothing spectacular but nothing to complain about, in this case no news is good news.

I don’t know where to put it in but the fight in this team has to be accounted for somewhere. They were outplayed for a majority of the game but hung around and played well enough late to force three overtimes before finally losing. The next week they faced a Pitt team who again outplayed them for 3 quarters. 21 straight 4^th quarter points later the Hawkeyes walked out with a win. The offense playing well enough to prompt Pitt’s coach to go for it on 4^th down just because he didn’t think his defense could stop the Hawkeyes.

The down side:

The defense: there have been far to many yards given up this year overall to be comfortable facing a more explosive offense such as Michigan, Wisconsin, or any of the other perennial powers in the big ten.

Containing the quarterback is another issue the defense has had this year, specifically the Iowa state game. During the course of the game and the three overtimes there were way to many opportunities to force and third or fourth and long or to force a punt where the quarterback escaped the pressure and picked up the first down. The coverage has been good and the opportunities to create the play have been as well, all to be lost when the containment is broken.

The offense: probably the best down side you can have is that the only concern for the Hawkeyes so far on offense has been their depth. The wide receivers core has proven to be much more solid then anyone anticipated in the pre season. Marvin McNutt is only 2 touchdowns away from the school record; Keenan Davis and freshman Kevonte Martin-Manley have stood out as the top receivers so far. The down side is at running back where the reserves behind sophomore Macrus Coker are thin. Freshman Mika’il McCall, who was initially Cokers backup, went down with a broken leg in the first week and no one has been highly noticed since.  The quarterback position will also be thin for the next two weeks as freshman A.J. Derby was suspended two games for a drunken incident in Iowa City last week. I’m very surprised the suspension was only two games based on the history of discipline at Iowa.

Looking Ahead:

The way I see it, this week is going to be an indicator of what is to come for the season. Penn State appears to be a middle of the pack Big 10 team with a growing offense and an average defense.  If the Hawkeyes can continue their winning ways in College Park the big ten schedule will be off to a good start. A loss could be the sign of trouble.  The key to the game to me is the containment of the quarterback. I believe the offense has enough power to stay in the game and the leaders in the secondary can make plays on the receivers. Making stops when they need to be made is what will change the game.

The future has been seen, and other tidbits from the big upset

The spring semester of Brockport hockey has been a successful one, even though the Eagles have been eliminated from the playoffs. Since January 7th they have put together a 3-4-2 record which, in most instances would not be all that impressive. However, when you consider the fact that prior to that date the Eagles were 1-12-1 in the fall semester, I call that progress.
The corner was turned with the two intersession wins over WNEC. These two wins occured just three games after the first win of the season as well as two tight match-ups with powerhouses Hobart and Neumann.The first official games of the semester were during the road trip up north, a trip that isn't easy even when your team is on a roll. Once the Eagles returned home to Tuttle North things began to pick up even more. The first game back was a match-up against a red hot Morrisville team, despite losing the game the team showed the firepower that we have been waiting to see all year. They buried six goals against one of the better goaltenders in the SUNYAC. The following night, at the Saves for a Cure game, the Eagles played a different style of hockey, shutting down Neumann and holding them to a 2-2 tie. I still have doubts about a no goal call in this game however it is over and nothing can be done about it now.
As a result of the leagues decision to suspend James Cody for two games for his beautiful hit on Matzel, the Eagles were without him for the match-ups against Buff State and Fredonia. The energy was lacking in the first game against Buff State, which resulted in a 4-1 loss. The next night though, they came ready to play against an always tough Fredonia squad. Freshman Joey Reagan stood on his head to make 47 saves, including 20 in the third period. Fellow freshman Brendan Rothfuss and Sean Wallace got the two goals for the Eagles and they stole an important point from Fredonia with the 2-2 tie.
This brings us to last nights game of the year for the Golden Eagles. They went into Ira S. Wilson Ice Arena to take on bitter rival Geneseo. The rivalry didn't stay to the ice though as our group of Eagles Nest Crazies, about 10 of us, had to deal with their fans all night. This included a fan from their student section who stole one of our signs and attempted to change its meaning, with the help of the rink staff he ungratefully returned it and was escorted from the arena. Another fan stood behind us and used plenty of profanities to get his point across that we were a "safety school" in his eyes.
The actual game was outstanding, junior Oliver Wren matched Reagan's performance from the Fredonia game with a 41 save showing of his own. Scoring in the game came from all over the place for the Eagles, senior Justin Noble got the first Brockport goal 1:16 into the second period on a breakaway after a Geneseo shot was blocked and bounced out into the neutral zone. Later in the period junior James Cody got a short handed goal, you could feel this one coming. The penalty kill team had kept the puck in the Geneseo zone for a while and eventually the hard work of Cody paid off as he ripped one past the Geneseo goalie  Rubeniuk. Senior Chris Berardini got what turned out to be the game winning goal on a shot from the outside 9:40 into the third period.
The officiating in this game was probably among the worst that I have ever seen. In the first period a Brockport player was slashed hard enough that it broke his stick, yet no call was made. There were several knee on knee hit throughout the game on both sides that were not called as well. In the third period Brett Jendra was going hard to the net and was hit by the Geneseo defenseman into the goalie. Once he got up Rubeniuk landed at least 5 visible punches to the back of Jendra's head resulting in a scrum around the net. Somehow the call ended up being; Jendra two minutes for charging, Rubeniuk two minutes for roughing and then one player for each side got matching roughing penalties. The calls that were made were even more questionable; Noble received a ten minute misconduct for something he said to the official. I have no doubt something was said but after playing hockey for 20 years I have come to realize that something over the top has to be said to receive a ten minute misconduct.
I have yet to decide what the biggest botched call was yet in this game. The first nominee is the second Geneseo "goal," play was to the right of Ollie right near the net, the post was knocked out of position but the peg stayed in, lifting the net close to two inches off the ice. The puck was pushed under the goal and ruled a goal. This coming despite the fact that the Geneseo student running the goal light was shaking his head no and everyone could see it. The rink staff that escorted us after the game even admitted to us that the puck went under the net, they were standing at ice level when it happened. The end result of this seemed to favor Brockport though, they came out fired up for the next faceoff, Luckily the call didn't cost the Eagles the game, it would have been a terrible solution to a great game. The other nominee actually benefited Brockport, with about 40 seconds to go in the third the teams had lined up for the faceoff however Geneseo had seven players instead of six (they had their goalie pulled). The official dropped the puck and the back official immediately blew the play dead, I assumed to reset the faceoff with the correct number of players. He however, called a penalty on Geneseo for too many men on the ice. Unless the rule has changed since I played the official is responsible to correct this before the drop of the puck and at most should have been called delay of game, if a warning had already been given. Regardless the Ice Knights went a man down and more importantly the faceoff went into their zone as a result of the penalty. The Eagles killed off the rest of the time and upset the number six team in the nation!
I love attending games at Ira, the atmosphere is awesome. The pep band does an excellent job of knowing what to play and when, and they have a few hard core fans of their own that try to get the crowd of 2000+ going. Last night was no exception, though coming out of there with a win in such a situation was awesome, and hopefully will carry on for a long time.

A glimpse of future hope

Going into the game Tuesday against Missouri I was one of those who had little faith in the Hawks to pull out a win. I watch the game regardless and was thoroughly impressed by the performance throughout the game. The loss of DJK (kicked off the team after drug charges), Robinson (suspended apparently for academics and the effects of an arrest between the end of the season and a bowl game puts his future in doubt), Hampton (transfer), Rodgers (injury), were assumed to have a major impact on the offense. The defense was facing questions of its own after taking most of the blame for the year end collapse.
When it came time to actually play the game, Marcus Coker piled the team on his back and carried them 217 yards. Micha Hyde stepped up and refused to let the defense take the blame for another late game loss by returning a Blaine Gabbert mistake 72 yards for a touchdown.
The game started just as the Hawkeyes wanted it to. They received the opening kickoff used a big pass play from Stanzi to McNutt, the feature receiver without DJK, and a few physical runs by freshman Marcus Coker to take an early seven to nothing lead. Missouri responded later in the quarter cutting the lead to four points.
The Hawks bumped up their lead on the first two possessions of the third quarter. Coker added his longest run of the season, only his sixth game, a 62 yard scamper outrunning the defenders after picking up a perfect block by McNutt. The Hawks then bumped their lead to 17-3 with a field goal by the true freshman Meyer.
Missouri, the number 14 team in the nation, wasn't going to go away quietly. They added a touchdown on an 82 yard drive and almost added a tying score with only a minute left. With only half a minute left Gabbert dropped back and tried to force the ball to his receiver where it was tipped by Shaun Prater into the hands of Brett Greenwood. The play ended the threat and the half, leaving the Hawkeyes with a seven point lead.
The second half had all the makings of another collapse for the Hawks. The offense struggled to get any consistency going, they produced only a Meyer field goal on the opening drive of the half. Stanzi threw two interceptions on the following three drives while Missouri produced 14 points in the game time to take their first lead of the game.
Then Micha Hyde stepped up and refused to let another game slip away. Despite giving up over 400 yards in the air and over 75 on the ground, the defense kept the team in the game. Gabbert was rushed on first down at the Iowa 29, he rolled out to his left and lobbed a pass that I assumed was going out of play. Next thing I knew, Hyde was picking up blocks and crossing the field. Soon after that he was sprinting up the field with help all around, turning a potential seven point deficit into a three point lead.
Mizzou got the ball back one more time though. The drove once again down into Hawkeye territory. A quarterback rush for three yards and two consecutive incomplete passes set up a fourth and seven with the game on the line. Gabbert threw a ball that appeared to result in a beautiful catch by his receiver Moe. The officials reviewd the catch however and decided to call it incomplete. I agreed with the call but did not expect it to be reversed because there didn't seem to be anything conclusive to show it. The ball was given back to the Hawks who continued to ride the back of Coker. He picked up ten yards on the first rush and seven on the next two. On third and one Stanzi ran a perfect play action pass, the whole defense went to Coker and when Stanzi rolled out it was too late. He hit Reisner, who was wide open, for a 39 yard gain. He came up a yard short of making it a ten point game but the Hawks were happy to line up in the victory formation and wind out the last few seconds.
The game was an excellent overall team performance. The line protected Stanzi and make holes for Coker. The defense played their typical bend but don't break style, conceding a huge amount of yards but only the 23 points for the game. The win helped to take the sting out of a rough year, the five close losses and failing to meet the expectations that had been set early. The Hawks proved that next year will be another to look forward to and I'm sure I'm not the only one looking forward to it.
Until then, other then a few occasional updates, LETS GO HAWKS!

Brockport Hockey

This is simply a follow up to a recent article on Brockporthockey.com regarding the strength of schedule that Brockport is playing this year. I decided to look into the strength of the schedule outside of the venomous SUNYAC conference schedule. Of the 15 different opponents that the Golden Eagles play this year only five of them currently have a sub .500 winning percentage. I would expect to see three of them, Fredonia, Elmira, and Hobart get back above that and for Potsdam to stay right in that range.

There are seven different teams on the schedule for Brockport that currently are in the top 15 for the USCHO poll or that have received votes. In order and the number of points they received this week:

Oswego    295

Neumann    137

Geneseo    122

Castleton    41

Buffalo State    37

Plattsburgh    27 (votes)

Elmira        3 (votes)



The SUNYAC in general must be one of the strongest conferences in the Nation; I have a hard time believing that there is a conference with more than 4 teams receiving votes. Brockport's schedule alos must also be near the top since most schools cannot claim that nearly half their schedule receives votes in the poll.

Another Season as the Team Ready to Turn the Corner

The Hawkeyes close out the regular season against Minnesota in a game that should be about as close as their rankings. Looking at how the Hawkeyes got to 7-4, 4-3 in the Big 10, though is painful no matter how many times I look at the schedule. Chances are the Hawks will still go to a major bowl game and gave a good chance to win it but knowing that only 19 points stand between them and an undefeated season is hard to swallow.

It feels like the season just began a few weeks ago, a nice easy opener, a rivalry game against a relatively unknown Iowa State team, and a tough road test against one of the better PAC-10 teams in a night game. The Hawkeyes were ranked in the top ten in the pre season polls and were expected to compete with Ohio State for the Big 10 title and to remain around the top in the nation for most of the season. A bunch of tough losses later the Hawks are one of only two, four loss teams in the top 25. Despite having four losses the Hawkeyes have yet to drop out of the rankings this season, though their #24 spot this week after dropping 2 consecutive games is the lowest position so far. Luckily there are still 2 more games to play this season.

The margin of defeat in their four losses this season goes as follows; seven points to #20 Arizona, a single point to # 5 ranked Wisconsin, four points to a 4 loss Northwestern team(who climbed into the top 25 briefly after their victory over the Hawkeyes), and three points to #8 ranked Ohio State. In each of the four losses the Hawkeyes have given up points in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter that have cost them the game. This season has shown marked improvement on the offensive side of the ball, mainly in balance of plays and how well they have protected the ball. Hawkeyes quarterbacks have attempted 313 passes this season, 302 for Ricky Stanzi, for nearly 3,000 yards leading to 24 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions. Running backs have had 334 attempts, which doesn't include 43 rush/sacks by Ricky Stanzi, for 1675 yards and 12 touchdowns. Between quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers there have been only 3 fumbles so far this season. To put this in perspective, last year's Orange Bowl winning team lost 8 fumbles and had 20 interceptions. This year's turnover margin of +14 is by far better than the +2 margin last year despite the fact that the defense has forced 9 fewer turnovers on the season.

Points per game have even improved this season; the defense has been strong as well. The average for all ten games this season is only 15.5 points per game, only decimal points above last year's average. The offense has improved as well, 29.5 points scored per game this season is 6.3 points better per game then the 23.2 in 2009. So where does the problem lie? To me it seems that when the points are scored has been the major culprit this season. In the 4 losses the opponent has scored at least the last point if not more than that. Despite the win in Michigan, the Hawkeyes were outscored 21-10 in the fourth quarter. This is truly interesting to me seeing as how well the Hawkeyes have looked during other parts of the game this season.

Who knows what the real reason that they are 7-3 instead of 10-0 is but I am sure that the players will be ready to go this Saturday in Minnesota. They, nor I, are ready to wrap up this season and start looking forward to next season yet. A fifth loss would not go over well regardless of when it were to happen but I think the team will settle out and finish strong. Nine wins I'm sure is the expectations now in the locker room and amongst fans such as myself. They still have plenty to play for; Stanzi and DJK have been moving up the record books, as has McNutt and all three would like to continue to do so. Adam Robinson is just under 70 yards away from 1,000 for the season, though it is not known yet if he will be in the lineup for this week's game. Adrian Clayborn is going to look to boost his draft stock against a weaker Gophers opponent after being double teamed and held for the majority of the season. Most of all the players will be ready to go for the trophy; the Floyd of Rosedale is on the line and no one wants to return home to Iowa City without it.

A Look at the Season so Far, and a Preview for Northwestern

While trying to figure out what to expect from the remaining three games of the season I decided to look at the quality of the opponents that the Hawkeyes have faced to far. To this point their opponents in major conferences have a combined record of 45 wins and 20 losses. Of these seven opponents, five of them have made appearances in the top 25 at one point or another this season including 3 that made it inside the top ten. Of course Iowa lost 2 of these games but the combined point differential was 8 points and both games were within reach, not situations where the Hawkeyes didn't have a chance.

A closer look at some of Iowa's opponents reveals some strengths and weaknesses. Arizona's loss last week against Stanford not only dampened the hopes of the Wildcats in terms of going to the Rose Bowl but also knocked them down in the rankings a bit more. Penn State started slow at 3-3 but now has won 3 and a row to get back into the middle of the Big-10. They play MSU and OSU still this season, if this team has any of the fight that JoPa teams have had in the past they will give both a run for their money. Michigan was the opposite case, they started strong and have faded again this year, the second straight year with such results. Iowa State and Indiana are teams in similar positions; both have records around .500 and have put a scare into much more skilled opponents along the way. Iowa State knocked of Texas earlier this season and took Nebraska into overtime last week, where a failed 2 point conversion in overtime cost them the game. Indiana is another team that has yet to record a signature win but only lost by five to Iowa and kept Ohio State close until the end of the game. Their matchup with Wisconsin this week may be the one to watch outside of Iowa-Northwestern, especially with John Clay potentially being out for the matchup. Iowa has played a very strong schedule so far this year and with the exception of Minnesota that will not change the rest of the year.

For the remaining games this season only one thing is for sure, Iowa should beat Minnesota, one of two teams on their schedule that currently have a losing record. The only win the Gophers have picked up this season was at Middle Tennessee State, where they won by 7 points. The Wildcats from Northwestern and the Buckeyes from Ohio State will be interesting matchups for the Hawkeyes. The two have combined for 14 wins so far this season highlighted Ohio State's win over Miami. Northwestern does not yet have their signature win but only lost to MSU by 8 after leading for most of the game. The Wildcats close out their season against Wisconsin and look for a win, against either those Badgers or Hawkeyes this week, to set themselves up for their bowl game. Ohio State is always tough, the Hawkeyes always know what they are getting into when they face the Buckeyes. After last year's results without Ricky Stanzi I have hope for the first time in a few years against them.

This week's matchup for the Hawkeyes is very similar to last weeks. They are in a game that they should win but playing a team in Northwestern that always shows up to play against Iowa. They normally bring a spread offence to the table that causes problems all over the field. Since I was in Pennsylvania last weekend I got to catch part of the PSU vs NW game and wasn't very impressed by what I saw. After the Wildcats jumped out to a first half lead the Nittany Lions made changes and charged back to win the game handedly. Another problem that the Hawkeyes could face is the let down involved with playing Ohio State in the following week. However, I hope to see Adam Robinson return from his concussion this week and team up with Marcus Coker to keep the ball and the clock moving all game. The defense will need to continue to play as stout as is has the last two weeks to slow down the passing attack and hopefully Ricky Stanzi can be sharp early to get points on the board that weren't converted last week. I'm looking forward to a noon game on ESPN that I will finally get a chance to watch again.

A Whole New Season

The Iowa Hawkeyes have hit a couple bumps in the road this year, the early season loss on the road to Arizona and last week's devastating one point loss to Wisconsin. After the Arizona loss my justification was that a non conference loss was going to have a minimal impact on the actual outcome of the season. Last week's loss was a bit tougher to handle, especially the way the Badgers have been playing as of late, the head to head loss would have been, and still could be, a difficult tie breaker for the Hawkeyes to overcome. Even more difficult was the prospect of a Michigan State team on a roll coming into Iowa City the week after an emotional loss.

Then the game was played. The Hawkeyes buckled down and used a balance of precise offense and overpowering defense to dominate the formerly undefeated Spartans to the tune of a 37-6 victory. Ricky Stanzi was extremely efficient throwing the ball only 15 times, completing 11 of them for 190 yards and 3 touchdowns. After setting the tone on the opening drive, 80 yards in over 6 minutes, the Hawkeyes scored points on all 3 of their other first half drives which gave them a 30-0 lead at halftime. The other touchdown came on a nifty play on the defensive side of the ball. Tyler Sash intercepted Cousins on Michigan State's second drive of the game, tossed the ball to Micha Hyde who scampered 60 yards to put the Hawkeyes up 17 in the first quarter. The defensive pace didn't change the rest of the day. There were three interceptions for the Hawkeyes secondary, one sack and they allowed only one rushing first down the entire game.

This win was crucial for the Hawkeyes, the top of the Big-10 is now all jammed up with MSU, Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Iowa all sitting with one conference loss. The Buckeyes come to Iowa City in 3 weeks, which appears to be their only real test left. Ohio State has a bye this week, Penn State the week after and Michigan to close out the season. The Michigan game is a rivalry game but shouldn't be much of a problem since Michigan has struggled since their fast start. The Badgers and Spartans are done with their games against ranked opponents for the year, their game at Michigan is the biggest remaining one for the Badgers and the Spartans travel to Happy Valley for their season finale.

I thought about looking up tie breaker rules and figuring out what needs to happen for the Hawkeyes to win the Big-10 title and head to California in January for the Rose Bowl. As soon as I began to look for them I realized that there was only one thing that really mattered; winning. The Hawkeyes need to win their last 4 games, including the contest at home against Ohio State. This is the only thing that they can control, each week we have seen teams get knocked off in games that some would say shouldn't be close, this of course is why we play the games and don't just look at the sheets to decide who wins. Maybe Wisconsin overlooks an opponent and picks up a second Big-10 loss, maybe MSU comes out flat following last week's loss, the point is that anything could happen. The four team jam is guaranteed to be reduced to three by the virtue of the Ohio State @ Iowa game but that is the only sure thing. The season is still up for grabs for these four teams, the question is who will work to earn it.

Biggest Game of the Year…part III

This week Wisconsin comes to Iowa to compete for the Heartland trophy, a reward that has been in play since 2004. Over the course of the trophy Iowa leads the series 4-2 winning 2 at home and 2 on the road, their 2 losses coming in 2006 and 2007 by a total of 7 points. Over the history of the rivalry the Hawkeyes lead by just a game at 42-41-2. The Heartland Trophy game is Iowa's second trophy game of the season, they retained the Cy-Hawk trophy with their 35-7 win over Iowa State earlier this year.

The match up this week appears to be the closest one of the year so far, the Hawkeyes and Badgers appear to be just about mirror images of each other. Both teams have suffered one loss this year, Iowa in week 3 to Arizona and Wisconsin in week 5 to Michigan State. The positive that both teams can take from their losses is that the team they lost to is currently in the top fifteen in the rankings. Wisconsin is coming of their season high, a victory over Ohio State, and hopes to keep their momentum going. Iowa comes in off a much needed victory in the Big House in a game where the stats would not have predicted the outcome at all.

The quarterback match up in the game is so similar that at first glance you might think the stats got copied over and someone forgot to change them.

Quarterback	TD	Int	Comp %	Yards	Sacks
Stanzi	13	2	68.3	1474	11
Tolzien	7	3	70.9	1353	5

Both quarterbacks are typically asked to manage their team while giving the ball to their strong running backs and let them do most of the work. Occasionally they will be called upon to make a big play, which in most cases they manage to do. The play of the quarterback position is my key to the game on Saturday making plays when they need to be made, keeping the chains moving and keeping the ball in their offenses hands will determine who is going to win this one.

The running back position is similar between Iowa and Wisconsin as well. Wisconsin does what Iowa planned to do in spring ball this year, which is using 2 running backs to keep the defense on their toes. Wisconsin has had the benefit of 2 healthy backs while Iowa has had to deal with an injury to Jewell Hampton and the departure of Brandon Wegher for personal reasons. Adam Robinson has taken over full time duty in the feature spot and handled it very well to this point. Robinson has rushed 129 times at 4.8 yards per carry while scoring 3 touchdowns, the only other back over 100 yards to this point is still Jewel Hampton who only played in 2 games this season. Wisconsin backs John Clay have combined for 216 attempts this season averaging over 6 yards a carry and 20 TDs. They also have running back Montee Ball who has rushed 46 times for 201 yards and added 3 more touchdowns. Needless to say the play of the offensive and defensive lines will go a long way in determining just how explosive this game can be.

Both teams have solid defenses coming into the game. Iowa was exposed last week against the pass but I credit that to preparing for Denard Robinson for 2 weeks and then having to change the game plan after halftime to adjust for Tate Forcier. Iowa ranks number 7 in the nation for rushing defense allowing 83 yards per game but number 52 in passing defense tweaked a little by last weeks performance.. Wisconsin ranks 26 allowing 114 yards per game rushing and 38 in passing defense allowing 193 yards per game.

Special teams play is another potential game changing area for both teams, mainly on the defending side. Both teams appear to be to be solid in the rankings for punt and kickoff returns but at the same time they have both allowed a touchdown on a punt or kickoff return. It happened to Iowa early in the Arizona game, putting them in a hole that they never could work their way out of. For Wisconsin it happened against MSU, a punt was returned for a touchdown giving the Spartans momentum and the lead which they never gave back in the game. These plays can change the entire momentum of the game as they have against both the Hawkeyes and the Badgers.

One mistake could be the difference in this game, one lapse in judgment by a quarterback, one running back that doesn't tuck the ball in, one blown coverage on special teams is all it could take. I believe that it will be the team that makes one less mistake that will come out on top. I expect a quick game on Saturday since I believe both offenses will be able to get the chains moving and that the running backs for both sides will see well over half of the snaps for the game. It should be a tight game throughout, I'm looking for the Iowa crowd to get behind the team and give them the push that they need to pull off the "upset."

Origin of my odd sports followings

I have been questioned many times as to how I ended up following such an odd variety of sports teams, so I have decided to let you all know exactly who I follow and how it got to be that way. I have an extreme anti-New York team bias which I've never fully been able to explain but I credit most of it to my high dislike of bandwagon fans. I suppose living in the state with the team you see many more of them then rooting for a team outside the state, so I stay away from anything in New York. As far as my favorites I'll start with my biggest passion, hockey, and work my way though.

Hockey:

NHL: I was never really a huge single team fan as a kid, always more of a fan of the players. Initially it was Pavel Bure when he played for the Canucks so I followed them closely, then I became a fan of Eric Lindros and therefore the Philadelphia Flyers. I went and saw the Flyers play against the Hartford Whalers and was one aggressive move away from getting my jersey signed by Lindros. Once his career headed downwards I didn't really follow anyone until the Minnesota Wild. We were on a family vacation in the mid west during the summer of 2000 right before their opening season. We went and saw the arena but weren't able to get a tour but the energy in the entire city for the team was amazing. This sparked my interest in the Wild along with watching Marian Gaborik play. I have been to 2 Wild games so far, both in Buffalo. The first was while Gaborik was still there, I was 2 rows from the ice and it was one of the most amazing experiences ever and the other was last year toward the end of the season. I still follow Gaborik now that he is in New York but the Wild are still my team. Overall I am just a hockey fan in general, ill turn on any hockey game that's on TV regardless of who is playing just to watch some hockey. I have been to a few other Sabres games on occasion since the prices can be reasonable and nothing is better than live hockey regardless of your seats or the level.

AHL: The Rochester Americans are my adopted hometown hockey team. Being from Utica, we have had our share of semi-pro hockey teams pass through. My junior year of college at Brockport I began going to Amerks games with my roommate and got hooked. My senior year all of my roommates were hockey fans with an AHL team at home so I used Rochester as mine. I go to about twenty games a year but always keep track of how they are doing when I'm not there or they are on the road.

College: Being a student at Brockport, the Golden Eagles are naturally my favorite team. I am part of/one of the creators of the Eagles Nest Crazies, the student section for the home games. I travel across the state to support the team with my friends, causing as much trouble as we can for the opposing teams. I would love to write about the games but until I graduate and am not friends with the players anymore I will not be doing so. As far as D-I hockey goes I don't have a personal favorite team, I pull for the Bemidji State beavers since my dad taught there but once again ill watch any game that happens to be on TV. The college tournament leading up to the Frozen 4 however is like a holiday. I have been known to set up 2 TVs and a computer and watch every available game during the day.

Football:

NFL: I'm not sure when I became a football fan but I credit my dad's friend in Iowa for getting me to be a Green Bay Packers fan. Once I started following them my passion grew, I had tickets thought Brockport to see the Packers play in Buffalo my freshman year but the transportation never showed up. Obviously I started following the packers while Favre was there and loved him as a Packer. I was ok with the trade to the Jets and Favre playing there because I understand the desire to play and the teams decision to move on but the move to Minnesota crossed the line, now that he is playing there I could not like him less. I've never been to an NFL game but do hope to get to one someday soon, even if it's going to see the Bills play at some point.

College: As I'm sure you have noticed if you have read just about any blog so far I am also an avid Hawkeyes fan and hope dearly to go to a game in Iowa City at some point in my life. I have seen them play in Syracuse; some of you may remember the 4 stops inside the 4 yard line with under 2 minutes to play. This one again goes to my dad's friend who bought me an Iowa jersey when I was first born but also to my grandfather who always has an opinion about how they are playing. I was in Iowa for their Orange Bowl win over Georgia Tech last year which was an experience by itself.

Baseball:

MLB: My passion for the Diamondbacks comes from my other grandfather who lived in Arizona and took me to a bunch of games when I was younger. My first game was their inaugural season and I believe it was against the Giants. I have also seen them play the Rockies, Padres, and during their World Series winning year I was them play the Astros. Chase Bank Stadium is the only MLB level field I have ever been to, thought I have never seen a game with the roof open. I am also a fan of anyone that beats the Yankees, this goes back to the bandwagon fan concept. I do acknowledge a few actual Yankee fans, but it's not very hard to be a fan of a team that finishes in the top 2 in the league year in and year out with a payroll that could pay off multiple teams' rosters.

Minor Leagues: I have attended a few Syracuse Skychiefs, and Buffalo Bison games as well as one Rochester Red Wings game but I do not follow any of them with any interest.

Miscellaneous:

I refuse to follow NBA basketball at all, though thanks to over coverage on ESPN I can name many more starters off a variety of teams then I would like to admit. I will watch some college basketball from time to time but that is usually limited to UNC/Duke games (in which I root for UNC) for the rivalry and the March Madness tournament. Most of my interest in the tournament is based on pools as well, not in the actual basketball itself. Syracuse basketball I refuse to root for…ever…because the only time you hear about a Syracuse basketball fan is when they are ranked or making a run in the tournament. I would like to see their football team do well but that is only because they don't have any bandwagon fans at the moment, I'm sure if they start winning it will fill right back up again.

A sport I would like to follow more closely is indoor lacrosse. I played lacrosse in high school and enjoyed it but never followed it a whole lot. I've been to multiple Rochester Knight Hawks games which I have enjoyed but never followed them outside of what I see at the game. I have attended multiple Rochester Rhinos games and enjoyed each one more than I expected to, since I was not previously a soccer fan. I watched as much world cup action as I could this summer as a result of the interest in the Rhinos game and nationalism. I recently found out about the Rochester Raiders indoor football team and will have to make seeing that a priority, I witnesses the AF2 championship in Iowa one year and the intensity of arena football is amazing.

I have yet to be offered an opportunity to watch a new sport that I have turned down. I'll watch anything once and generally return if given that chance. Sports have always been part of my life and will be for a long time to come. This blog is a chance for me to express my views and at the same time increase my knowledge of sports and current events in them. I hope you enjoy what I have to say and even if you don't let me know what would make it more enjoyable for you.

Anxiety from GameCast on a cell phone…and an Iowa win!

To call today's game an up and down event would be an understatement, especially when the only way to find out what was going on was on a cell phone. A slow start, two 3-and outs gaining only 7 yards in between which Michigan and Denard Robinson put together a 75 yard touchdown drive. Then the Hawkeyes got going, recording 3 consecutive touchdown drives totaling over 180 yards while holding the Wolverines scoreless due to an interception and a missed field goal. The second half was about the same as both teams struggled to keep the ball in their possession until Iowa scored with a minute and 45 seconds left in the third quarter. At this point the game got very interesting.

Denard Robinson suffered a shoulder injury on the first Michigan play of the third quarter, prompting Tate Forcier to take over at quarterback. Watching the GameCast on the phone made this even more interesting since there was no notification about the injury, I was left to wonder why Robinson had left the game. Robinson is the most dynamic quarterback in the Big-10 but the Hawkeyes had 2 weeks to formulate a game plan to stop him. The problem with this is that with an injury like we saw today, the whole game plan has to change in a matter of minutes. Forcier came into the game for Robinson and immediately drove the Wolverines down the field and into scoring position. Fortunately for the Hawks, they forced a fumble by Vincent Smith on their own 15 yard line to end the threat. After an Iowa punt Forcier took over again, this time he made his own mistake on the third play of the drive and had his pass intercepted by the Iowa defense. The offense took just under 3 minutes to cash in on this mistake and got a late game touchdown, something that I pointed out they needed more of after the last game. The next 3 drives traded touchdowns back and forth, leaving Iowa with a 35-21 lead with just over ten minutes to go. Iowa went three out and on the next drive and Forcier once again drove the Michigan offense down the field to make it a 7 point game. The next drive Ricky Stanzi stepped up with Adam Robinson to get the job done. They drove into Michigan territory and although the drive stalled, took another 4 minutes off the clock. 4^th and 7 deep in Michigan territory seemed to take forever to update, the nerves of waiting to read if the freshman kicker Michael Meyer had hit the field goal were killing me. When the phone finally revealed that he had hit it I was highly relieved, a ten point lead with less than 3 minutes to go sounded much better than the simple 7 point lead the Hawks had been clinging to. The defense stepped up when Forcier took the field for the last time, intercepting his third pass of the drive to seal the game. Adam Robinson picked up a first down for good measure, allowing the Hawkeyes to kneel down and pick up a victory in Ann Arbor for the first time since 2002.

I said earlier this week that forcing turnovers was going to be the key to this week; yards were going to be gained regardless of how well the defense played. Little did I know that the yards were going to be picked up through the air and that the turnovers were going to come at the hands of last year's starting quarterback and not Denard Robinson. The Hawks were semi successful at stopping Robinson, he completed 13 of 18 passes but only for 97 yards and had one interception. Robinson also ran 18 times for 105 yards in the half that he played, both stats were on pace for the 200 passing 200 rushing that he has been averaging this season. They key for Iowa was that Michigan only had 7 points from their initial touchdown drive to show for all this success. Forcier brought a whole new aspect to the game, something that the team surely hadn't prepared for much the last 2 weeks. Forcier completed 17 of 26 passes for 239 yards and a touchdown but also threw 2 interceptions and had the costly fumble by his running back while he was in the game. The stat that worries me is the 523 total offensive yards that Michigan was able to gain. The Wolverines gained 31 first downs, including 3 by converting fourth down situations. Points were kept off the board though by the opportunistic Hawkeyes defense with the 4 turnovers and a blocked field goal.

With the exception to a very slow start to the third quarter, the offense looked as fantastic statistically as I had expected it to. Stanzi was 17 of 24 passing for 247 yards with 3 touchdown passes to Derrell Johnson-Kulianos, who had 4 total receptions for 70 yards. The ball was spread around well by Stanzi again this week, 7 teammates had receptions, Robinson and McNutt matched DJK with 4 receptions on the day. Adam Robinson did everything asked of him today, he ran 31 times for 144 yards and 2 touchdowns. With Adams 61 receiving yards he was over 200 total offensive yards for the game. The thing that I was the most pleased to see about the offense was the points scored in every quarter, something that it seems there was a lack of in tight games so far.

Special teams did their job today; Michael Meyer hit all 5 extra points as well as the game clinching 30 yard field goal. Ryan Donahue was called upon 5 times and averaged 46 yards per punt, I would like to see the number downed inside the 20 higher than 1 but without actually watching the game I don't know how often that could have been asked for today. DJK handled kickoff duties today and averaged 30 yards a return, none of the Michigan punts were returned. Kick coverage was good as well today, as it has been since the Arizona game, allowing an average of 20 yards on kickoffs and only 6 total yards on 3 punt return attempts.

When all is said on done it's nice to see the W on the board for the week. We will find out how good Michigan and Penn State really are in the next few weeks. Today's offensive effort was great to see, last year I would have doubted the teams ability to score enough points to win a shootout. The next 2 weeks continue to be huge for the Hawkeyes; first Wisconsin comes to Iowa City coming off their win against number 1 Ohio State followed by Michigan State, currently undefeated and atop the Big-10 standings. These two teams will both be in contention for the Big-10 title when the end of November rolls around so a couple of wins could set the stage for the Hawkeyes. For those who are watching the standings currently, the Hawks are one of 3 teams tied for first based on the conference record.

I will have a preview later in the week of the Wisconsin game, as they come to town attempting to knock Iowa out of the way and work their way up the standings.

Same game : changing views…and a preview of the Wolverines

If I wrote this article in the week after the Iowa vs Penn State game it would have a very different perspective then it does now. When the game took place I saw it as a one loss Iowa team taking on a one loss Nittany Lions team with the winner competing for the Big-10 title regardless of which team was the winner. I expected another game where whoever scored last was going to win the game, Iowa showed up to play as expected, Penn State failed to live up to my expectations. Those expectations were lowered even more the following week when Penn State lost to a tough but not outstanding Illinois team by 20 points.

Regardless of how good or bad of a team Penn State ends up being there were many aspects of Iowa's game that looked outstanding. With the exception of one throw in the first half where he was intercepted, Ricky Stanzi had a great day. He went 16 of 22 throwing for 227 yards and a touchdown, rushing 6 times for 9 yards and another touchdown. The ball was distributed all over the field again as well, 6 different receivers made receptions, 4 of them had over 25 yards receiving for the game. Marvin McNutt and DJK once again were the favorite targets for Stanzi hitting them for 5 and 4 catches with 93 and 64 yards respectively. Adam Robinson continued his solid season as well rushing for 95 yards on 28 carries. The one thing I once again didn't like about this game was the slowdown at halftime by the offense. They put 17 points on the scoreboard in the first half but failed to score another touchdown the rest of the game. Overall the day was successful, only the one turnover by the offense, nearly 350 yards which generated 17 first downs and had a tendency to keep the clock rolling.

As good as the offense was the defense matched it. Through the last 2 games, yes one was against Ball State but still; they have allowed only 3 points. Penn state made it inside Iowa territory twice in the first half, only 6 yards in on one drive. A fourth down stop on the goal line in the third quarter kept Iowa in control of the game, something they never really gave up from the first drive. The final nail in the coffen for the Nittany Lions was the interception return for a touchdown by Shaun Prater with 2 minutes left in the 4^th quarter. The defense did all that was asked of them in the game, although they gave up over 300 yards they stepped up when it was needed, the interception and the 4^th down stop.

Special teams performed well again this week as well. Freshman Michael Meyer was solid, making all 3 extra point attempts and converting his only field goal try of 20 yards. Ryan Donahue was also excellent in the punting department. He had 7 punts which averaged 40.3 yards per kick and had 3 downed inside the Penn State 20 yard line. The fact that 3 of his punts were downed inside the 20 was the most impressive special teams stat to me, his 4 kicks that weren't downed they were from well within Iowa territory; the 29, the 35, the 11 and the 23. Making the opponents drive as fast as possible is going to be key as the season moves on, beginning this week with Michigan.

Denard Robinson may be the most feared 2 words in the Big-10 outside of Ohio State. This week Iowa goes into Michigan to face Denard and his 5-1 Michigan Wolverines. Last week Michigan got their first real test of the season against Michigan State and it turned out that they are human after all. This week Iowa hopes to repeat the Spartans performance and force Robinson to throw the ball. Michigan State did this mainly once they got the lead any Michigan had to try to mount a comeback. I hope that Iowa's ability to start fast will hold up again this week against the 112^th (out of 120) ranked defense that allowed 536 yards, including 249 on the ground, last week to the Spartans. Iowa's secondary has a great ability to get to the ball and Robinson's arm is untested so multiple interceptions are possible. The front four will need to contain Robinson as well; they have done well at generating pressure this year. However, getting pressure will not be enough against a shifty quarterback.

This week has the potential to be a statement game for the Hawkeyes. Winning in the "Big House," something that the Hawkeyes haven't accomplished since 2002, would put Iowa on pace in the Big-10 with a 2-0 record. Regardless of the hype, or in this case skepticism, about Michigan, a win in Ann Arbor would be a huge one for the Hawkeyes. I personally think it can be done, Josh Nesbitt from Georgia Tech was supposed to run all over the Hawkeyes in the Orange Bowl last year and that didn't happen. Either way the matchup between the Hawkeyes and Wolverines Saturday should be a good one.

A Crushing Defeat…or was it?

Week 3 of the college football season appeared to be a devastating one for my Iowa Hawkeyes, or at least at first glance. A closer look at the game shows that even though their BCS championship homes are all but shattered, their season is still full of hope. I was unable to watch a majority of the game so my analysis is based on highlights, box scores, and the few moments that I did see.

Although the Hawkeyes were ranked in the top 10 in both polls their chances of actually playing for the national title were limited. In a 3 way tie of undefeated teams, they were probably going to be the odd team out. Iowa's only real non conference test was the game against Arizona so that part of the schedule is weak. The Big Ten conference has its doubters as well; many people would take an SEC or Big 12 team with one loss over an undefeated Big Ten team. Iowa also has the disadvantage of not yet being a household name in terms of good teams in the NCAA, Ohio State is probably the only one that does. So now that the BCS title is out of the picture, sights can be set on the next goal, a Rose Bowl bid as the Big Ten champion.

The Big Ten schedule doesn't start for another week, this means the Hawkeyes are still in an 11 way tie for first place despite this apparently huge loss. The game against the formally #24, now #14, ranked Arizona wildcats may have been a measuring stick for the Hawkeyes. Should the Hawkeyes fair as well as some say, and I believe is possible, they could be playing Arizona again in January. This time they would face off in a neutral site as conference champs, a little more on the line then an early season warm-up game.

From what I have read and seen, the Hawkeyes gave Arizona a lot more then they usually do. First a blocked punt setting up an 8 yard scoring drive, 7-0 Arizona. Next was Ricky Stanzi's first interception of the year, not a huge deal had it not been returned 84 yards for a touchdown, 14-0. Arizona's first touch of the second quarter killed the Iowa momentum from the previous touchdown drive; the wildcats returned the kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. A missed extra point capped of a game full of free points even thought it had no effect on the outcome. Teams coached by Kirk Ferentz are not typically this sloppy. Usually if you are going to beat the Hawkeyes you are going to have to come up with a game plan to beat them, not wait for them to beat themselves. Hopefully the outcome of this game can be credited to the trip out west, the late start, or the hot temperatures but it is not something to dwell on, just something to build off of.

The biggest positive that I took from the game was the no quit spirit that the team held. Being down 14 points in the first 3:15 or being down 20 at the half would have been more than enough for some teams to pack it in and give up for the night. Instead they all kept working tying the game up at 27 before conceding the winning touchdown with 4:02 left. Now if only resiliency counted on the scoreboard or had Arizona decided that Iowa tried hard enough to win the game.

The Hawkeyes happily return home this Saturday to take on Ball State. The Cardinals will not compare in quality to Arizona or any of the top 25 ranked opponents on the schedule for the Hawkeyes the following 4 weeks. The Cardinals will, however, provide an excellent game to get back on track. They played Purdue in week 3 only losing by 11 points. I am looking for the offensive line to tighten up significantly and allow Stanzi to have more time in the pocket. Last week Arizona generated 6 sacks and many more plays that could have resulted in one. Along the same lines I hope to see Adam Robinson get back into a flow. With Jewell Hampton now out for the season Robinson will be relied on to take the pressure off of the offence. Last week the whole the Hawkeyes got in to put a damper on their ability to use their methodic run and pass diversity that allowed them to roll through their first two games. Protecting the ball and reestablishing their flow on offence would be great to see this week, a 21 point win should not be too much to ask for an offense that has thrived prior to week 3.

This is the last tune-up before the heart of the season, and the start of the Big Ten schedule hits. The conference schedule starts with 4 straight games against teams that are currently ranked. Thankfully 3 of the 4 are played in the friendly confines of Kinnick Stadium. The first 3 will be the dictator in terms of which way this season will go. Penn State, Michigan, and Wisconsin are 3 of the teams could be battling for the top of the conference at the end of the season. 3 wins and the showdown with Ohio State will make or break the season, losing 1 or 2 will put the Hawkeyes in position for a mediocre season. Last week I was nervous about the night game and the trip out west, those nerves proved to be right. One thing I have learned from watching Iowa play over the years is that they always thrive when playing as the underdog. Take care of Ball State this week and do what has to be done then bring on the Big Ten Schedule, I can't wait to see what the season brings.

And The Debate Begins

Each year since 2006 the NCAA football season has ended with a non major conference team in the top 10. Last year Boise State and Texas Christian University broke into the top ten with undefeated regular seasons. This immediately started the debate as to whether or not an undefeated non major conference team should be in the national title game. The decision last year ended up pitting TCU against Boise in a BCS game instead of letting them play a major conference team and finding out if they really belonged or not. Nothing was really proved in terms of competitiveness by this game as Boise went on to win the game but didn't beat a team that people were willing to compare to. This season started with the Broncos ranked number 3 in the country based on their bowl game win and the fact that they return 22 starters from last year.

Monday night was the toughest game on the Broncos schedule but just how tough it was remains to be seen. Virginia Tech handed the Broncos 17 points in the first quarter, yes I understand that they had to do something to create points but it wasn't much. The fumbled snap was just lack of focus for the center and the quarterback, 4 plays, 4 yards gained, 3 points on the board. The second drive for Tech was just as bad, they let Pettis run right around the end, 2 Tech defenders stood in the middle of the field and didn't pick up anyone. Boise got the ball back, 2 plays, 12 yards, 7 easy points (blown coverage by the corner). The third Boise score was a bit more work but if it wasn't for a terrible mental decision by the defender Virginia would have had the ball back with decent field position. 2 penalties on the kick return, by the same player gave Boise not only the first down but 15 yards on top of that. So in summary Boise had the ball for 9 minutes, went 74 yards on their own, and had 17 points on the board.

After the first quarter I felt like Virginia Tech dominated most of the game, their offence figured out how to play again, they gave Taylor time to make plays like the great athlete that he is. Their defense forced Boise to make decisions in a hurry getting pressure on the quarterback and not letting the Broncos get a rushing game going. This all was until the final Boise drive though. Kellen Moore found his form and put together and excellent drive, I don't know enough about football rules to comment on the non call block from behind or the late hit on the sideline(I feel that if the receiver keeps playing like it's like so should the defender but I'm sure that isn't the rule). Credit to the Broncos but I also think that the Hokies played the last 2 drives all wrong. They were having success by bringing pressure on defense but played prevent defense which allowed Boise to easily pass down the field. They changed up their offensive strategy as well; they were going for the long ball to get into range even though they had 2 timeouts left. All game they had success with the short plays, around ten yards, getting down the field by scrambling and just making plays.

Time will tell just how good Virginia Tech is once they start their ACC schedule, this will be important in the coaches' poll in determining how much of an impact the win has on Boise. With their remaining schedule Boise should have no problem going undefeated, Oregon state will be a test but limited since they are playing them at home on the blue turf. Last season teams in the WAC went 43-58, well below the breakeven point of a .500 winning percentage. Their non conference opponents, VT, Wyoming, and Oregon State, went 23-13 last year which isn't bad but none of them were competing for a national championship either.

I personally just don't think Boise State should automatically be slated into the national championship game. Their competition just isn't the same as a team Big 10, SEC or Big 12 where you face as many as 5 ranked teams throughout the year. Had they blown out VT on Monday night I would probably feel like they belong but I don't know how good VT is and I think that most of the game was handed to the Broncos. Maybe by the end of the season everyone will have 2 losses other then Boise and I could justify them being in the championship but until then I disagree and feel they a BCS game is acceptable but not the big one.